Long time Apple watchdog, living in Malaysia, land of corruption. This blog discussed technology, gadgets and life in Malaysia.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

I would never quit if I were Flappy Bird developer..

As an avid gamer for 3 decades, I have always dreamed of making games. Back in the 1988, my friend and I wanted to make a game. We built a website in anticipate to promote the game (that was before blogs were popular) but we didn't really have the energy, passion and technical know how to write a game. At one point, 2 years after iPhone was released and many people are making money writing apps, we wanted to tap on that platform to write games. I bought a Mac with the main intention of studying iOS programming. Last year Dec, we even planned to take a week off and take a iOS programming course.

So, it is with envy that I see successes of Flappy Bird, a game so simple, it boggles the mind on how it became so popular. And the natural thoughts of the developer quitting despite potentially making US$50,000/day is that he must be insane.. or weak. If I had $50K a day, I would shut off internet and go to the beach sipping premium coffee.. or I would buy a bungalow in Cameron Highlands and live there.. or I would migrate the family to Sydney Habour and enjoy the Pacific Ocean, oblivious to the internet I shut off.

This article, from a developer I respected a lot, gave me pause though:"Suppose one day I get one insult too many, I go nuts and quit or freak out. Here's what people will say about me: What a weakling. What a wimp. What an idiot. Why does he care? Why doesn't he just turn the social media off? Why can't he be tough and awesome like me? Screw that guy.

All this, of course, from people who have never experienced being in even remotely the same position."